Egyptian Court Declares Hamas 'Terrorist' Movement

An Egyptian court has ruled the Palestinian group Hamas to be a terrorist organization.

Egyptian television reported the decision of the Cairo Court of Urgent Matters on February 28.

The current Egyptian authorities have claimed that Hamas has been aiding Islamic extremists in Egypt who have staged a series of deadly attacks on security forces in the Sinai Peninsula.

Last month the same court ruled that Hamas' military wing -- the Al-Qassam Brigades -- was also a terrorist group.

Egyptian authorities have initiated a crackdown on members of the Muslim Brotherhood, and other suspect Islamic groups, since the military ousted, then jailed former president and Muslim Brotherhood member Muhammad Morsi in 2013.

Hamas is an offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.

Hamas responded to the Egyptian court decision by calling it "shocking and dangerous."

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa